PRODUCTION LOGGING IN HORIZONTAL WELLS
An apparatus for production logging includes a conveyance device configured to traverse a wellbore, a multicapacitance flow meter positioned on the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to holdup; and a spinner flow meter positioned on the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase.
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1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to oilfield downhole tools and more particularly to tools for logging production wells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Well logging surveys are often made in producing oil and gas wells to determine the fraction of oil, gas and unwanted water components present in a production interval. These data along with measurements of the fluid flow velocity, cross-section of the well, pressure and temperature may be used to determine production rates and other information from each zone of interest in the well. Such data may be useful for optimizing the well production, oil recovery, and water shut-off, in order to achieve a better reservoir management and to reduce intervention costs.
The number of drilled horizontal wells continues to increase. Production logging in horizontal wells can be challenging because of phase segregation due to gravity and fluid density difference. In addition to this, if the well is not perfectly horizontal, the flow regime changes while going up or downhill.
The present disclosure addresses the need for production logging tools and instruments that can operate in such conditions as well as other needs of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn aspects, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for production logging. The apparatus may include a conveyance device configured to traverse a wellbore, a multicapacitance flow meter positioned along the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to holdup; and a spinner flow meter positioned along the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase.
In aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for production logging. The method may include conveying a multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter along a wellbore using a conveyance device, estimating at least one parameter relating to holdup using the multicapacitance flow meter, and estimating at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase using the spinner flow meter.
Examples of certain features of the disclosure have been summarized (albeit rather broadly) in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
For detailed understanding of the present disclosure, references should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements have been given like numerals and wherein:
As will be appreciated from the discussion below, aspects of the present disclosure provide a production logging tool that can operate in deviated and horizontal wells (i.e., non-vertical wells). Illustrative production tools according to the present disclosure may be used to define a flow profile, the perforations contributions, and the water entries. These production tools furnish at least two main measurements, holdup and velocity measurement, which may be used to define the flow profile in a well. Illustrative embodiments are discussed below.
Referring initially to
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In a horizontal well, the fluid phases segregate horizontally due to gravity and density. The MCFM 60 may measure velocities at multiple levels in such a plane, with six arrays of capacitive sensors, as shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
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When the tool 50 is operated, each instrument, 60 and 80, provides information that may be used to define flow profiles and identify the water entry intervals. For instance, the multi-capacitance flow meters 60 use dielectric data that may be used to estimate holdup (e.g., three phase holdup). The spinner flow meter 80 measures or estimates flow velocity. Generally, the spinner flow meter 80 provides adequate flow velocity information in both high and low water cut and also provides adequate velocity measurement and provide such information even when there is little or no phase mixing. The combination of these measurements, along with the well trajectory and borehole cross section information, may be used for flow profile definition and the identification of the different fluid entries, i.e., oil, water and gas entries.
The term “information” as used herein includes any form of information (Analog, digital, EM, printed, etc.). The “information” may be stored on a suitable media, may be real-time, may include information transmittable via conductor, RF, optical, etc.
Thus, it should be appreciated that what has been described includes a multicapacitance flow meter that estimates at least one parameter relating to holdup; and a spinner flow meter that estimates at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase. The multicapacitance flow meter and the spinner flow meter may be positioned along the same conveyance device. The multicapacitance flow meter may include an array of linearly distributed sensors and may include a plurality of pairs of capacitance sensors. The multicapacitance flow meter may further estimate at least one parameter relating to a fluid velocity. The spinner flow meter may include an array of circumferentially distributed sensors. The spinner flow meter may estimate a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase. The conveyance device may be a non-rigid conveyance member or a self-propelled conveyance device.
it should be appreciated that what has been described also includes a method for production logging that includew conveying a multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter along a wellbore using a conveyance device; estimating at least one parameter relating to holdup using the multicapacitance flow meter; and estimating at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase using the spinner flow meter. The method may further include conveying the multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter along a substantially horizontal section of the wellbore. The method, in embodiments, may include locating an out of norm water cut and a region of no fluid phase mixing. An out of norm water cut may be a percentage of water that is outside a desired or expected value or range. The term “minimal fluid mixing” refers to a fluid condition wherein the amount of mixing is below a desired or expected value or range.
While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the certain non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all variations within the scope of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.
Claims
1. An apparatus for production logging, comprising:
- a conveyance device configured to traverse a wellbore;
- a multicapacitance flow meter positioned along the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to holdup; and
- a spinner flow meter positioned along the conveyance device and configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter includes an array of linearly distributed sensors.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter includes a plurality of pairs of capacitance sensors.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter is further configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to a fluid velocity.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spinner flow meter includes an array of circumferentially distributed sensors.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spinner flow meter is configured to estimate a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyance device is selected from one of: (i) a non-rigid conveyance member, and (ii) a self-propelled conveyance device.
8. A method for production logging, comprising:
- conveying a multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter along a wellbore using a conveyance device;
- estimating at least one parameter relating to holdup using the multicapacitance flow meter; and
- estimating at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase using the spinner flow meter.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising conveying the multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter along a substantially horizontal section of the wellbore.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the multicapacitance flow meter and a spinner flow meter in a flow condition selected from one of: (i) an out of norm water cut, and (ii) a region of minimal fluid phase mixing.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter includes an array of linearly distributed sensors.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter includes a plurality of pairs of capacitance sensors.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the multicapacitance flow meter is further configured to estimate at least one parameter relating to a fluid velocity.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the spinner flow meter includes an array of circumferentially distributed sensors.
15. The method of claim 8, further comprising estimate a flow velocity of at least one fluid phase wherein the spinner flow meter.
16. The method of claim 8, wherein the conveyance device is selected from one of: (i) a non-rigid conveyance member, and (ii) a self-propelled conveyance device.
17. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the estimated at least one parameter relating to holdup and the estimated at least one parameter relating to a flow velocity to estimate a flow characteristic selected from at least one of: (i) a flow profile, (ii) a fluid entry, and (iii) a perforation contribution.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using at least one of: (i) well trajectory information, and (ii) borehole cross section information to estimated the selected flow characteristic.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 4, 2013
Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED (HOUSTON, TX)
Inventor: Lynda Memiche (Al Ahmadi)
Application Number: 13/252,590
International Classification: E21B 47/10 (20120101);